Snaking a drain is performed with an auger, a coiled "snake" piece with a handle on one end. There are two types of plumbing snakes: drain augers, which are more common, and closet augers, which are smaller and mostly used by plumbers to unclog toilets. This article outlines how to assess your drain's clog and take care of it on your own so you can avoid a costly visit from the plumber.

Steps

Part 1

Assess the Clog

1

Try using a plunger. Many drain clogs can be removed using a plunger. If you haven't already given it a whirl, it's worth trying, so you can avoid the more time-consuming process of snaking your drain. Use this technique to see if a plunger can't do the trick:

Place the plunger over the drain. Make sure the rubber head is flush against the sink or bathtub around the drain so that it creates a seal.

Push the plunger so the rubber head inverts. Let it pop back up and push down again. Do this several times until water starts draining from the sink or bathtub.

If the water doesn't drain, put the plunger away and try something else.

2

Try cleaning the trap. Many clogs are located in the trap under the sink, and are easily removed if you clean out the trap, the screen that catches hair and other solid objects. Clean the trap by taking the following steps:

Place a bucket under the sink to catch water and other debris that will pour out when you detach the trap.

Remove the clean-out plug from the trap. It's usually located in the base of the bend. Push a wire coat hanger or another long, thin object into the hole and use it to scrape out debris and clean the clog.

If you don't have a clean-out plug, unscrew the trap using a pair of pliers. Clean out the debris and wash out the trap before replacing it.

If the clog is still there after cleaning the trap, move on to the next step.

Part 2

Snake the Drain

1

Gather supplies. You'll need a drain auger or closet auger, a bucket, and rubber cleaning gloves. Have a few old towels around to clean up dirty water.

2

Remove anything that's obstructing the drain. If you have a tub screen or a hair trap covering your drain, place it out of the way.

3

Push the snake cable into the drain. Rotate the handle clockwise as you push.

Grip the handle with both hands if you have trouble pushing.

As you lower the cable, move your grip down until it's about 3 inches (7.6 cm) from the drain opening. This close grip allows you to control your motions and feel for the clog easier.

4

Lower the cable until you reach the clog. At some point you will feel resistance from the obstruction in your pipe.

It might seem as if the cable has hit a wall when you hit the pipe's curve. Keep pushing to snake the pipe past the curve.

You should be able to determine that what you've hit is the clog if you sense the clump giving way slightly as you press downward.

5

Try to hook the clog. Continue to turn the cable clockwise, and then pull up slightly to see if you've captured any of the clogged matter. Push and prod the clog so you can begin to break it up.

Work on the clog until you puncture through the other end. Continue turning the handle to break up the clog into smaller pieces.

If the clog won't seem to budge, it may be a solid object that you've hooked.

6

Pull the clog out slowly. Pull the snake out of the drain with care so you don't lose the clog if it's hooked on the snake.

Clean the mess off the snake with a towel as it emerges. Dump the drain matter into a bucket.

Keep pulling up as much of the clog as you can until the snake is free.

7

Determine if the drain is still clogged. Run the water through the drain. It may take a few second to wash away the remnants of the clog, but it should begin to flow quickly.

If the drain is still obstructed, you will need to try to locate the clog from another angle. Try snaking through the pipes directly under the sink. Unscrew the sink trap and insert the snake into the hole. Snake the pipe using the same technique you used to snake it through the drain opening.

If water still won't run through the drain after you've snaked it from the trap, it may have been pushed further down into your pipes. In this case, it's time to call the plumber.

Part 3

Preventing Future Clogs

1

Don't dump solid objects down the drain. Cutting hair over the sink or washing heavy products down the drain can lead to clogs. Throw all solid objects in the trash instead, even if they're seemingly too small to cause clogs.

2

Use a screen. Hair traps and drain screens work well to prevent clogs from happening. Make sure you have one in your sink and in the shower, so your hair doesn't get knotted inside the pipe.

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Tips

There are a number of professional-grade electric augers available for purchase, but they are often expensive and require skill to operate.

Pour boiling water down the drain at least twice before deciding that you need to use a snake to clear the drain. If you notice no improvement, proceed as outlined above.

Before you take apart the trap despite the fact that plunging and chemicals have failed, try using a hand snake auger.

Warnings

Using a drain auger can push a clog further down the pipes, making it very difficult both to locate and remove. Do not attempt to follow your home's plumbing system to track down the clog.

Do not pour large amounts of grease down the drain. To prevent small amounts of grease from sticking to the inside of pipes, run a good amount of hot water through a working drain to warm up the drain pipes first. Emulsify a greasy pan by dissolving the grease in dishwashing liquid and warm water. Then you can put the small amount of emulsified grease down the drain along with a good amount of additional hot water.